The Cargo of This 150-Year-Old Shipwrecked Steamboat Was Perfectly Preserved

The Steamboat Arabia left Kansas City in 1856 en route to 16 different locations along the Missouri River for trading purposes. However, it was lost to the muddy waters of the river and history.

The Arabia was 171 feet long and could carry up to 222 tons of cargo. It had just one paddlewheel which made it easier to navigate the hazardous western river system. She traveled at a breakneck speed of 5 miles per hour. For her time, she was a technical marvel renowned for her safety, speed, and comfort. On Arabia’s fateful last trip upstream, she was carrying hundreds of tons of cargo meant for different towns along the frontier route.

Steamboats were a popular method of travel and were critical for trading purposes. The ship traveled both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for around 2 years until she was bought by Captain John Shaw in 1855. The price for the steamboat was $20,000. Then, she went through new ownership in the spring of 1856. Under her new owners, she regularly traveled on the Missouri River where the ship ultimately met her watery fate.